Posted on 05/07/2007 1:51:35 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Family sues survival school after death of fit 29-year-old on wilderness course
"Dave is dead." The words came at the end of the second day of what was supposed to be a character-forming experience, a chance for 12 people to "experience the wilderness to the fullest".
Instead, the trek through the mountains and desert of Utah in the mid-western US left David Buschow, a fit 29-year-old US air force veteran and security guard from New York dehydrated and hallucinating, his eyes bulging and tongue swollen. Less than 10 hours after setting off from the group's overnight camp on the second day, Buschow collapsed and died.
According to the coroner's report, he died from "dehydration and electrolyte imbalance due to hiking in hot environmental temperatures with inadequate water and electrolyte replacement".
But, an inquiry has found, the three wilderness camp instructors accompanying the group did have water. They chose not to offer it to Buschow, preferring that he attempt to complete the day's task. Buschow died knowing he was just 100 yards from the spot where water had already been found.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
exertion in even modest heat requires 1 liter of fluid per hour to stay hydrated, heavy exertion/desert/higher temps would require more. It is quite easy to be very dehydrated in just a couple of hours if you do not take care of yourself
I went to the link and read the full thing. Two other people were offered water. When this guy fell down and said he needed water, it was refused. The guide told him he could go farther than he thought he could, and told him to get up, he could make it. That’s when he noticed the guy was no longer breathing.
His family needs to sue. There is a huge difference between using a waiver to protect yourself, when doing something so inherently dangerous that people get hurt or killed even when everything is done right, and using a waiver to protect yourself when you have callously allowed someone in your care to die from a danger you have a duty to protect them from.
If they got to the water hole and, againt all expectation, it was dry, or contaminated, and the guy dies, well, that is why you have a waiver. But when you order him to not carry his own water, then listen to him describe the symtoms of heat stroke and dehydration, while carrying for yourself the water you ordered him not to bring for himself...
Somebody ought to suffer for that.
Indeed. They did commit murder, after all. But the best we can probably hope for is some form of manslaughter.
Yes, you are right.
That’s an excellent point. He probably never looked so angelic in his life as when he was dying of thirst.
By hiking in low humidity and high temperatures.
I know it’s the Guardian and all, but ...
“the trek through the mountains and desert of Utah in the mid-western US”
If they get something factual wrong like Utah being in the midwest, then what else is wrong in this story?
How does someone get THAT dehydrated in 10 hours?
10 hours extreme hiking in July heat with no water?
“How does someone get THAT dehydrated in 10 hours?”
That is an excellent question, and one that needs to be investigated before we hang the guides.
Prayers for David Buschow & his family. I hope the family sues this company & the so called guides face trial.
AP article
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070504/NEWS/705040340/1326
No one is going to prison, per the article:
“Garfield County authorities declined to file charges, saying there was insufficient evidence the school acted with criminal negligence. The prosecutor said participants knew they were taking a risk.”
also in the article:
“He said he could not go on,” staff member Shawn O’Neal wrote two days later in a statement ordered by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. “I felt that he could make it this short distance and told him he could do it as I have seen many students sore, dehydrated and saying ‘can’t’ do something, only to find that they have strength beyond their conceived limits.”
O’Neal didn’t inform Buschow about his emergency water.
“I wanted him to accomplish getting to the water and the cave for rest,” he wrote. “He asked me to go get the water for him. I said I was not going to leave him. ... Shortly thereafter I had a bad feeling and turned to Dave and found no sign of breathing.”
A gal friend and I were unintentionally left on a Baja Mexico beach during the heat of the day for about 2 hours. We had only intended to be there 30 minutes or so. The dinghy that dropped us off had engine problems and didn't return as planned.
We had swim suits and T-shirts and sandals on. After about an hour we were becoming dehydrated and a bit panicky. The wind was probably as much a factor as the heat and the sun. The only relief was to crawl under some very big rocks for shelter......another hour of exposure would have found us delirious.
I have had huge respect for sun and wind exposure and what it can do ever since!
A gal friend and I were unintentionally left on a Baja Mexico beach during the heat of the day for about 2 hours. We had only intended to be there 30 minutes or so. The dinghy that dropped us off had engine problems and didn't return as planned.
We had swim suits and T-shirts and sandals on. After about an hour we were becoming dehydrated and a bit panicky. The wind was probably as much a factor as the heat and the sun. The only relief was to crawl under some very big rocks for shelter......another hour of exposure would have found us delirious.
I have had huge respect for sun and wind exposure and what it can do ever since!
Wonder if he was drinking booze or beer the night before. That will do it.
i can picture it - I got hypothermia in 35 degree weather....it happens
My best friend has been preparing for a grand canyon float trip all winter and spring - the first thing they learned was take a drink every 15 minutes wether you think you need it or not
When you hike in this region, the No. 1 rule is to bring lots of water. Any guide who advises hikers to not bring water is guilty of criminal negligence.
Yeah, some “survival” school.
They are more into the power over people rather than the teaching of men. I've always hated power hungry assh#les like that.
They should be held criminally responsible as well as civially liable. I hate lawyers as much as the next guy but this is beyond the pale.
If he was my son, I'd tell the guy to turn himself in to the nearest authorities........ for his own protection. or I'd chain him up and put him, wrapped up in trash bags, inside of a sauna for about 3-4 hours. no water and let the chips fall where they may.
Lessons learned:
1. Desert hiking, even in the fall and spring, can dehydrate you VERY fast.
2. Don't trust your fellow hikers to bring enough food and water. Verify that they are being prudent.
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